{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T02:17:14Z","timestamp":1777515434798,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,6]],"date-time":"2021-12-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1638748800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Private research contract","award":["research contract 107467 (CSIC identification)"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["research contract 107467 (CSIC identification)"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Primary and secondary emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a waterproof coal tar membrane and their effect on the indoor air quality were investigated through a case study in a residential building situated in Madrid, Spain. The air contaminants were analyzed in situ using photoionization method and several samples of contaminants were taken using three sorbents: activated carbon, XAD2 and Tenax GR. It was found that various VOCs such as toluene, p- and m-Xylene, PAHs such as naphthalene, methyl-naphthalenes, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, phenanthrene and fluorine, volatile organic halogens including chloroform and trichlorofluoromethane, and alkylbenzene (1,2,4-trimethylbenzene) were found at concentrations, which exceeded the limits established by international and national agencies (WHO, EPA, OSHA). Some of the above organic compounds were found also in the samples of construction and building materials, which were obtained at different heights and places. The analysis of possible sources of the contaminants pointed at the original coal-tar membrane, which was applied on the terrace to be waterproof. During a posterior reparation the membrane was coated with a new one that hindered dissipation of emitted contaminants. The contaminants leached out and were absorbed by construction materials down in the dwelling. These materials then acted as secondary emission sources. To remediate the emission problem as the contaminated materials were removed and then a ventilation system was installed to force the gasses being emitted from the rest of contaminated slab outside. Follow-up has validated the success of the remediation procedure.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182312855","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,6]],"date-time":"2021-12-06T22:18:42Z","timestamp":1638829122000},"page":"12855","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Primary and Secondary Emissions of VOCs and PAHs in Indoor Air from a Waterproof Coal-Tar Membrane: Diagnosis and Remediation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Rafael","family":"Pi\u00f1eiro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Construction Science \u201cEduardo Torroja\u201d, IETcc (CSIC), 28033 Madrid, Spain"},{"name":"Arquitecture School, Madrid Polytechnic University, 28040 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1825-3615","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eva","family":"Jimenez-Relinque","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Construction Science \u201cEduardo Torroja\u201d, IETcc (CSIC), 28033 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3374-1035","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roman","family":"Nevshupa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Construction Science \u201cEduardo Torroja\u201d, IETcc (CSIC), 28033 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9758-0341","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marta","family":"Castellote","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Construction Science \u201cEduardo Torroja\u201d, IETcc (CSIC), 28033 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1278","DOI":"10.1021\/es00031a002","article-title":"Exposure to carcinogenic PAHs in the environment","volume":"26","author":"Menzie","year":"1992","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"IARC (2021, September 04). Bitumens and Bitumen Emissions, and Some N- and S-Heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Available online: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK294234\/."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Jia, C., and Fu, X. (2021, September 08). Characterizing Community Exposure to Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in The Memphis Tri-State Area, Available online: https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-01\/documents\/memphis_pahs_study_final_report_08.pdf."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0668.1992.02-21.x","article-title":"Effects of Indoor Air Pollution on Human Health","volume":"2","author":"Berglund","year":"1992","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0668.1997.t01-2-00003.x","article-title":"Are we measuring the relevant indoor pollutants?","volume":"7","author":"Wolkoff","year":"1997","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/S0013-9351(03)00035-5","article-title":"Risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds in different indoor environments","volume":"94","author":"Guo","year":"2003","journal-title":"Environ. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.buildenv.2015.07.001","article-title":"Long term air quality monitoring in a net-zero energy residence designed with low emitting interior products","volume":"94","author":"Poppendieck","year":"2015","journal-title":"Build. Environ."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"(2021, September 11). M\/366 Horizontal Complement to the Mandates for the Development of Horizontal Standardised Assessment Methods for Harmonised Approaches Relating to Dangerous Substances under the Construction Products Directive (cpd). Available online: https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/growth\/tools-databases\/mandates\/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.detail&id=323#."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Saarela, K., Tirkkonen, T., Bj\u00f6rkroth, M., Kukkonen, E., Sepp\u00e4nen, O., and Tuomainen, M. (2021, September 16). M1, Emission Classification of Building Materials: Protocol for Chemical and Sensory Testing of Building Materials. Available online: https:\/\/login.rakennustieto.fi\/kortistot\/rane\/material\/attachments\/5ezkfuhFL\/5eNmqcoNb\/Files\/CurrentFile\/Testing_protocol_version_15122004.pdf."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Bluyssen, P., Cochet, C., Fischer, M., Kn\u00f6ppel, H., Levy, L., Lundgren, B., Maroni, M., M\u00f8lhave, L., Rothweiler, H., and Saarela, K. (2021, September 16). Evaluation of VOC Emissions from Building Products. Available online: https:\/\/www.aivc.org\/sites\/default\/files\/members_area\/medias\/pdf\/Inive\/ECA\/ECA_Report18.pdf."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"De Bortoli, M., Kephalopoulos, S., Kirchner, S., Schauenburg, H., and Vissers, H. (2021, September 18). European Inter-Laboratory Comparison on VOC Emitted from and Products. Available online: https:\/\/www.aivc.org\/sites\/default\/files\/members_area\/medias\/pdf\/Inive\/ECA\/ECA_Report21.pdf."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.1111\/ina.12325","article-title":"Ventilation, indoor air quality, and health in homes undergoing weatherization","volume":"27","author":"Francisco","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3111","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atmosenv.2006.05.082","article-title":"Impact of reaction products from building materials and furnishings on indoor air quality\u2014A review of recent advances in indoor chemistry","volume":"41","author":"Uhde","year":"2007","journal-title":"Atmos. Environ."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2419","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.7b06387","article-title":"Indoor chemistry","volume":"52","author":"Weschler","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.buildenv.2015.04.006","article-title":"Contribution of outdoor-originating particles, indoor-emitted particles and indoor secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to residential indoor PM2.5 concentration: A model-based estimation","volume":"90","author":"Ji","year":"2015","journal-title":"Build. Environ."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1034\/j.1600-0668.2001.110406.x","article-title":"Sorptive Interactions between VOCs and Indoor Materials","volume":"11","author":"Won","year":"2001","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0668.1997.00002.x","article-title":"Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) in Indoor Air Quality Investigations*","volume":"7","author":"Molhave","year":"1997","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2013.07.019","article-title":"A review of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their human health effects","volume":"60","author":"Kim","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Int."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejpe.2015.03.011","article-title":"A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation","volume":"25","author":"Mansour","year":"2016","journal-title":"Egypt. J. Pet."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.2298\/CICEQ140206016Z","article-title":"PAHs levels in gas and particle-bound phase in schools at different locations in Serbia","volume":"21","author":"Tasic","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chem. Ind. Chem. Eng. Q. CICEQ"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2014.01.119","article-title":"Concentrations and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor dust in China","volume":"491\u2013492","author":"Qi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Zorn, C., Kohler, M., Weis, N., and Scharenberg, W. (2005). Proposal for assessment of indoor air polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Proceedings of 10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Indoor Air 2005), Tsinghua University Press."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0668.2011.00760.x","article-title":"Sources, concentrations, and risks of naphthalene in indoor and outdoor air","volume":"22","author":"Batterman","year":"2011","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"59","article-title":"Exposure of children to pollutants in house dust and indoor air","volume":"143","author":"Roberts","year":"1995","journal-title":"Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2294","DOI":"10.4209\/aaqr.2019.06.0301","article-title":"Analysis of PAHs Associated with PM10 and PM2.5 from Different Districts in Nanjing","volume":"19","author":"Liu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Aerosol Air Qual. Res."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2012.01.010","article-title":"Coal-tar pavement sealants might substantially increase children\u2019s PAH exposures","volume":"164","author":"Williams","year":"2012","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"894","DOI":"10.1021\/es902533r","article-title":"Coal-Tar-Based Parking Lot Sealcoat: An Unrecognized Source of PAH to Settled House Dust","volume":"44","author":"Mahler","year":"2010","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3039","DOI":"10.1021\/es203699x","article-title":"Coal-Tar-Based Pavement Sealcoat and PAHs: Implications for the Environment, Human Health, and Stormwater Management","volume":"46","author":"Mahler","year":"2012","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kozicki, M., Piasecki, M., Goljan, A., Deptu\u0142a, H., and Nies\u0142ochowski, A. (2018). Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Dispersion and Cementitious Waterproofing Products. Sustainability, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/su10072178"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"887","DOI":"10.1021\/ac00160a012","article-title":"Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a coal tar standard reference material","volume":"60","author":"Wise","year":"1988","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1080\/15459620701335035","article-title":"Meta-Analysis of Lung Cancer in Asphalt Roofing and Paving Workers with External Adjustment for Confounding by Coal Tar","volume":"4","author":"Fayerweather","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Occup. Environ. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atmosenv.2012.01.036","article-title":"PAH volatilization following application of coal-tar-based pavement sealant","volume":"51","author":"Majewski","year":"2012","journal-title":"Atmos. Environ."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1277","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2010.11.123","article-title":"Analysis of coal tar pitch and smoke extract components and their cytotoxicity on human bronchial epithelial cells","volume":"186","author":"Li","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Hazard. Mater."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2015.03.005","article-title":"Exposure to runoff from coal-tar-sealed pavement induces genotoxicity and impairment of DNA repair capacity in the RTL-W1 fish liver cell line","volume":"520","author":"Kienzler","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115772","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2020.115772","article-title":"Background Concentration, Risk Assessment and Regulatory Threshold Development: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Surface Soils","volume":"268","author":"Siemering","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.marpolbul.2021.112221","article-title":"Effects of substances released from a coal tar-based coating used to protect harbor structures on oysters","volume":"166","author":"Chiovatto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mar. Pollut. Bull."},{"key":"ref_37","first-page":"267","article-title":"Volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal tar pitch of water barrier in floors and in ceiling of an old office building and IAQ","volume":"2","author":"Honkanen","year":"2006","journal-title":"AIVC"},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"10","article-title":"A compilation of physical, spectroscopic and photophysical properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons","volume":"70","author":"Dabestani","year":"1999","journal-title":"Photochem. Photobiol."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12862","DOI":"10.1021\/ja906434c","article-title":"CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 2009\u22122010","volume":"131","author":"Haynes","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Puszkarewicz, A., and Kaleta, J. (2020). The Efficiency of the Removal of Naphthalene from Aqueous Solutions by Different Adsorbents. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17165969"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2049","DOI":"10.1016\/S0008-8846(03)00225-4","article-title":"The BET-specific surface area of hydrated Portland cement and related materials","volume":"33","author":"Odler","year":"2003","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Res."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7785","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.9b00335","article-title":"Trapping at the Solid\u2013Gas Interface: Selective Adsorption of Naphthalene by Montmorillonite Intercalated with a Fe(III)\u2013Phenanthroline Complex","volume":"4","author":"Castellini","year":"2019","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"(2021, September 18). ASHRAE Standard 62-1999\u2014Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air QualityStandard 62-1999. Available online: https:\/\/en.ru1lib.org\/book\/651762\/c0ff02?dsource=recommend."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"267","article-title":"Indoor Air Quality Guidelines and Standards\u2014A State of the Art Review","volume":"3","author":"Avgelis","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int. J. Vent."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"(2021, September 19). L\u00edmites de Exposici\u00f3n Profesional Para Agentes Qu\u00edmicos en Espa\u00f1a. Available online: https:\/\/www.insst.es\/documents\/94886\/1637405\/LEP+2021.pdf\/3e65c9ac-0708-f262-4808-2562cc9e0134."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Wexler, P. (2005). Recommended Exposure Limits (REL). Encyclopedia of Toxicology, Elsevier. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Barsan, M. (2021, September 21). NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Available online: https:\/\/stacks.cdc.gov\/view\/cdc\/21265."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (2021, September 21). WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants. Available online: https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/handle\/10665\/260127."},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"(2021, September 21). Calidad del Ambiente Interior en Edificios de Uso P\u00fablico. Available online: http:\/\/www.madrid.org\/bvirtual\/BVCM020191.pdf."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/23\/12855\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T07:40:20Z","timestamp":1760168420000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/23\/12855"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,6]]},"references-count":49,"journal-issue":{"issue":"23","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph182312855"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph182312855","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,6]]}}}